Automatic railway-alarm apparatus



(No Model.) A 5 Sheets-Sheet 1' W. RYMER. AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARMAPPARATUS.

No. 401,376. Patented Apr. 16, 1889. v

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W. RYMEB. AUTOMATIG RAILWAY ALARM APPARATUS. No. 401,376. Patented Apr.16, 1889.

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(No Model.)

W. RYMER.

v AUTOMATIC RAILWAY ALARM APPARATUS.

No. 401,376. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

W. RYMER. AUTOMATIG RAILWAY ALARM APPARATUS.

No. 401,376. Patented Apr. 16, 1889.

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(No Model.) A 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

W. RYMER. AUTOMATIG RAILWAY ALARM APPARATUS.

No. 401,376. Patented Apr. 16, 1889 HIHIHIHIHUHII l1 I 1 I:AHHIIHIHLULUTFWnA Inven Z02.-

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UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

lVILLlAM RYMER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

AUTOMATIC RAl LWAY-ALARM APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 401,376, dated April16, 1889.

Application filed January 10, 1888- Serial No. 260,335. (No model.)

To all whom it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, WVILLIAM RYMER, a cit-izen of the United States,residing at Detroit, county of Vvayne, State of Michigan, have inventeda certain new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for AutomaticallySounding a Vhistle; and I declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of thisspecification.

The object of my invent-ion is to provide an apparatus for automaticallysounding a whistle, the same being adapted for various uses-as, forinstance, to sound a fog-whistle on a steamer or elsewhere; also tosound a locomotive-whistle at highway-crossings or other desired points.

The purpose of the invention is, moreover, to automatically sound thewhistle so as to give any required signal in accordance wit-h acustomary or prescribed code, as may be desired, with or without theattention of the engincer.

I have illustrated my invention as applied to a locomotive, as suchillustration answers every purpose, although I do not confine my selfthereto in my present application.

It has been found desirable for many rea sons to provide locomotiveswith a suitable and eiiicient device whereby the whistle will beinvariably sounded at highway-crossings or other points even should theordinary signalpost he unobserved or disregarded by the engineer inattention upon other matters, and whereby he may also be entirelyrelieved of attention so continuously to this matter and permitted tofix his undivided thought upon other duties. A device in order toprovide for this end in a desirable manner must not only sound thewhistle, butalso cause it to sound in just the required way; and it isthe purpose of my present invention to accomplish these results in asatisfactory, reliable, and efficient manner. I accomplish my obj ect asmore fully hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out inthe claims.

In the drawings forming a part of this application, Figure 1 is a sideelevation of a locomotive, illustrating features of my invention. Fig. 2is an elevation looking toward the front of the interior of the cab.Fig. 3 is a side elevation of certain parts of the mechanism; Fig. 4c, afront elevation of the same, showing parts broken away. Fig. 5 is aview, partly in section and partly in elevation, showing a modificationof the invention. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section seen from beneath,illustrating features of the regulating or governin g device. Fig. 7 isa separate view of the slip-sleeve; Fig. 8, a separate view, inelevation, looking toward the rear of the drivewheel, illustrating thespring-bar and the bar 0. Fig. 9 is amodification of the manner ofconstructing and attaching the bar C. Fig. 10 is a plan view of thespring-bar, and Fig. 11 a side elevation of the same.

I carry out my invention as follows: A represents a locomotive, B therail or track, and B a spring-bar located at the side of the trackadjacent to the rail. These springbars may be located at desired pointsalong the track wherever it is desired that the whistle of a passingtrain should be sounded for highway-crossings or elsewhere. Engaged uponthe locomotive is a movable or reciprocatory bar, 0, which may bevariously shaped and engaged thereupon, its function being toreciprocate a connecting-rod, D, to communicate motion to a rack-bar, E,meshing with a piniomf, upon a valve, f, in an inlet-pipe, F, so as toopen and close said valve.

As shown in Fig. l, the bar C is a jointed bar hinged at one extremity,as at 0, upon the under side of the foot-board A. The lower and oppositeend of said bar is extended downward along the side of the side sheet, Aadjacent to which it may, if desired, be secured by suitable guides, to,so as to have a free vertical movement. Said bar preferably terminatesat its lower end in an anti-friction roller, 0, to facilitate the travelover the spring-bar B, which may be made arc'shaped. The bar 0preferably extends downward alongside the side sheet in the rear of thedrive-wheel A as this location insures the spring-bar always beingcleared, as of ice and snow in winter. The connecting-rod D is engagedwith the rack-bar E in any suitable manner, as by a bell-crank, D,engaged on the face of the cab, as at a, and an intermediate link, D Thelower end of said rod closely governed also by a valve, f

may extend downward through the foot-board A and into contact with thebar 0, so as to be reciprocated by the operation of said bar as itslower end travels over the spring-bar. It is also provided with aretracting-spring, d.

The inlet-pipe F maylead from the boiler A and at its opposite endcommunicates with a piston-cylinder, G, through a connectingpipe, F, thepassage of steam from said pipe being controlled by a shut-off valve, f,provided with the pinion f, meshing with the rack-teeth c on therack-bar E. It will thus be seen that when the rack-bar is reciprocatedthe valve will be opened or closed accordingly, so that steam may beadmitted to or entirely out off from said cylinder. The amount of steamadmitted to said. cylinder may be more The cylinder is provided,preferably, with double piston-heads G G the piston-rod G having ajointed engagement with an operating-lever, G fulcrumed in a bracket orsupporting arm, H, as shown at g. The cylinder is also provided with anexhaust-pipe, g, and in turn may communicate with an ordinary whistle,I, through a connecting-pipe, The admission of steam from the cylinderto the whistle will thus be controlled by the movement of thepiston-heads. WVhen the piston-heads, Fig. 5, are forced inwardly, steamadmitted to the cylinder will have free communication with the pipe g tothe whistle. The opposite movement of the piston-heads will cut off thesteam from entrance into pipe 9 and permit the steam to exhaust freelythrough the pipe g. The cylinder may, if desired, communicate directlythrough a connecting-pipe, g to an independent whistle, I, as shown inFig. 4; but ordinarily it may be preferable to connect the said cylinderwith the ordinary whistle with which locomotives are already equipped bytheir ordinary hand-lever mechanism, whereby the engineer operates andcontrols at will the sounding of the desired signals. My inventiontherefore contemplates such an attachment of my automatic mechanism withthe ordinary whistle, so that the whistle may be both operatedautomatically, and at the same time be free for the operation of theengineer at will. Accordingly 1 represents the ordinary whistle, and Iits ordinary lever mechanism, which may be of any desired construction.As shown herewith, it consists of a crank-arm, 11, and its lever-arm'i',the crankarm being engaged with suitable connectingrods, 1' "L tocontrol the whistle-valve 11.

I is a retracting-spring of ordinary construction.

NVith the end of the crank-arm i or its connected rod 2' I engage apiston-rod, J, its piston-head J working in an auxiliary cylinder, J thepipe 9 in this case communicating with said cylinder, instead of withthe whistle direct, as shown in Fig. 4. This auxiliary cylinder may besupported in any desired manner, as by a bracket, a engaged upon theboiler-head. Obviously the pipe 9 may lead to any point where it may bedesired to locate the cylinder G. Steamadmitted to the cylinder J 2 willoperate the Whistle mechanism, while at the same time the said mechanismis also under the free control of the engineer.

The admission of steam to the cylinder J 2 will be regulated by thepiston in movement of this lever I govern in the following manner: Theconnecting-pipe F not only serves as a communication from the inlet-pipeF to the cylinder G, but is also extended below the union of theinlet-pipe therewith, and communicates, furthermore, with a rotarymechanism, K, of any desired construction-such, for example, as that fora rotary pump shown and described in Letters Patent No. 12,350, grantedto Holley February 6, 1855. In the present instance two rotatabletoothed pistons, 10 lo of variable diameters, are arranged to intermesh,and are driven by a supply of steam or compressed air, the same mediumas that which blows the whistle. K is the exhaustpipe from saidrotarymechanism. L is a pinion driven from said rotary mechanism, andmeshing with a toothed cam-cylinder, M, whereby said cylinder is causedto rotate. The cam-groove m of said cylinder may be constructed of anydesired form. Into this cam-groove the lower end of the operating-leverG is extended. As the cam-cylinder revolves, it is obvious that the saidlever will be guided and thrown to conform to said cam-groove, andthereby the piston-heads will. be accordingly thrown to and fro in thecylinderGto admit or cut off steam and so produce the desired successionof blasts from the whistle.

m is the shaft of the cam-cylinder. Mounted on said shaft is alsolocated an annular ing-disk, N, recessed at n.

Engaged upon the rack-bar E is a lockingarm, E, preferably provided withan anti-friction roller, 6', arranged to travel about the rim of thedisk as the same is rotated simultaneously with the cam-cylinder whenonce the rack-bar has been thrown to open the valve f. The locking-armwill thus be guided one entire revolution of the cam-cylinder about thelocking-disk, and when a single revolution has been completed the lowerextremity of said arm will engage in the recess 92 of the lock--lockingdisk and thus dog the mechanism.

The inward movement of the locking-arm to dog the locking-disk willbesimultaneous with a corresponding movement of the rack-bar, by whichmovement the valve f ,will be rotated to cut off steam.

The bracket H may be engaged upon the case K. The rack-bar may besupported and guided in suitable brackets, H H which may also be engagedupon said case.

The rack-bar is shown in position to open the valve in the inlet-pipe.In Fig. 6 the locking-arm is shown in position to dog the locking-disk.

Inasmuch as the connecting-pipe F supports the cylinder G and thebrackets H H H support other features of the device from the case K,with which said connecting-pipe is also engaged, it will be seen thatthe whole device may readily be located and supported in position byarms 71; 7a, engaged in any desired position-as, for instance, upon theboiler-head, as shown in Fig. 2a convenient position for the readyoperation of the various parts. 3

It will be noticed that while the cam-cylinder and locking-disk aremaking one revolution the bar 0 rides out of engagement with thespring-bar B, and consequently the spring (I will restore theconnecting-rod D and rackbar E to their normal position as soon as thelocking-arm is free to move inward, stopping the movement and thesignal.

The operation of the device will thus be readily understood. A portionof the steam admitted to the connecting-pipe F passes to the cylinder G,and also to the rotary mechanism K, and thus the rotary mechanismcontrols the movement of the piston in said cylinder, as described, toproduce the results herein set forth. WVhen the mechanism is dogged, itwill be seen the rotation of the valve f throws off all steam entirelyfrom the cylinder G and the rotary mechanism, so that when not in usethere is no steam to be condensed in the device. The cam-groove may beshaped to conform to any signal desired.

The quantity of steam desired to be admitted to the rotary mechanism maybe controlled by an auxiliary valve, f, in the connecting-pipe F.

The bar E need not necessarily be a rackbar having a geared engagementwith the valve f as said bar might be variously engaged with said valveto open and close it as said bar is reciprocated.

The rotary mechanism and closely-related parts may all be inclosed in asuitable case, 0, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, so as to excludedust and other obstructions from the mechanism. 7

I have described the pipe F as a steam-inlet pipe leading from theboiler; but it might,

if preferred, lead to the compressed-air chamber of the air-brakemechanism, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 at F and Arespectively, and I contemplate such modification as coming within thescope of my invention.

Should it be desired to throw the automatic mechanism out of operation,the bar D might be provided with a slip-sleeve, P, as shown in Fig. 7,controlled by a set-screw, P.

In some cases it maybe preferable to make the bar C and rod D integral,as shown in Fig. 2.

The rod 0 may be variously constructed and arranged to reciprocate therod D. Accordingly it may be pivotally engaged upon the side sheet ofthe engine, as shown at 0, Fig. 9, and instead of being lifted as itrides over the spring-bar it will be oscillated, as indicated by thedirection of the arrow in said figure, whereby the lower end of the barD will be caused to ride out upon one of the arms, (2 0 with which thebar 0 may be constructed. This construction, it is evident, will affordconsiderable leverage for the more effective operation of the rack-barin the rapid running of a train.

The spring-bar B may be of any suitable construction. I prefer toconstruct it as more particularly shown in Figs. 8, '10, and 11, whereinit is represented as a rod or bar turned at its extremities to form anelongated orifice, 5, whereby the spring is engaged upon a base-plate,Q, by means of a pin or post, g, at each end, so as to permit the springto yield. I prefer also to locate it in an inclined position, as shownin Fig. 8, extending upward above the rail and adjacent thereto in sucha manner that the driver Will ride over it and so clear it, the roller 0of the bar C being also so located as to be sure of riding over it tothrow open the valve f. The tension of the spring should be such as toresist the pressure of the bar 0 in riding over it. It will be seen thatthis preferred construction provides a fixed tripping device foroperating the reciprocating bar 0.

\Vhere it is desired to use the invention for sounding a fog-whistle oran analogous purpose, the valve f in the inlet-pipe might be operated byhand or otherwise, the mechanism for controlling the kind of signal tobe sounded being the same as herein described, for however the valve fmay be operated the rotary mechanism and its cam-cylinder may be used tocontrol the movement of the piston in the cylinder G, and consequentlythe proper succession of blasts desired.

In a pending application, No. 289,375, filed by me October 29, 1888, Ihave shown anddescribed, with some variations, the general constructionherein set forth, and have therein broadly claimed the same.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with a whistle and apiston-cylinder in connection with the whistle, of a piston within thecylinder to control the blast in pipes leading from a commonpower-supply to the piston-cylinder and to the whistle, whereby thepiston is actuated by the same power that blows the whistle, the valvein the supply-pipe, and a reciprocating bar connected with the valve foroperating it and having an irregular intermittent movement,substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with a whistle and a piston-cylinder in connectionwith the whistle,

of a piston within the cylinder to control the length of the blast, andan actuating medium common to both rotary mechanism and whistle,substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with a whistle and a piston-cylinder in connectiontherewith provided with an inlet-opening, of a piston within thecylinder to control. the blast, a rotary mechanism for operating thepiston, and a valve to admit the whistle-actuating medium to thecylinder and to the piston-actuating mechanism, substantially as setforth.

4. The combination, with a whistle and a piston-cylinder in connectiontherewith provided with an inlet-opening, of a piston within thecylinder to control the blast, a rotary mechanism to operate the piston,a valve to control the admission of the whistle-actuating medium to boththe cylinder and the rotary mechanism, and means for operating the valveintermittently, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with a whistle, of a piston-cylinder, an inlet-pipe,and connecting-pipe F, said inlet-pipe provided with a controlling-valveand said connecting-pipe with a regulating-valve, the piston-cylinderand the whistle being each connected with a common power-supply,substantially as described.

6. In combination, a piston-cylinder, a piston, arotary mechanism tooperate the piston, a pipe connecting the piston-cylinder and rotarymechanism, a supply-pipe in connection with the connecting-pipe, and avalve in the supply-pipe to control the admission of thewhistle-actuating medium to both cylinder and rotary mechanism,substantially as set forth.

'7. The combination of the piston-cylinder and rotary mechanism unitedby a connecting-pipe, an inlet-pipe communicating with saidconnecting-pipe, a controlling-valve located in the inlet-pipe, andvalves f f located in the connecting-pipe, substantially as described.

8. The combination of a whistle, a cylinder, a power-conductingsupply-pipe connecting said cylinder with the whistle, a piston withinthe cylinder to control the whistle, and a rotatable cam to control themovements of the piston, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination, with the piston and its cylinder, of a rotatablecam-cylinder to control said piston and a locking device to dog saidcam-cylinder, substantially as described.

10. The combination of the whistle, a cylinder in connection therewith,a piston within the cylinder to control the blast, a lever to controlthe operation of the piston, and rotary mechanism to actuate said lever,substantially as set forth.

11. In combination, a whistle, a cylinder in connection therewith, apiston within the cylinder to control the whistle, a supply-pipe incommunication with the Whistle, a supplypipe in communication with thecylinder,.the

pipes from the whistle and cylinder each leading to a commonpower-supply, a valve in the supply-pipe, aireciprocating bar to operatethe valve, and a fixed tripping device for the purpose of operating thesaid bar, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination, the whistle, the cylinder in connection therewith,the piston to control the whistle, the inlet-pipe in connection with thecylinder, the valve provided with a pinion, and a reciprocating rack-barmeshing with the pinion to operate the valve, substantially as setforth.

13. In combination, the cylinder, the piston, the inlet-pipe, thecontrolling-valve, the bar 0, to operate the valve, and a fixed trippingdevice for the purpose of operating said bar, substantially as setforth.v

14. In combination, a rotary mechanism, a pipe to admit the actuatingmedium to the rotary mechanism, a cylinder provided with a cam anddriven by the rotary mechanism, a cylinder, and a piston in thecylinder, the said piston driven by the cam, substantially as set forth.

15. In a whistle-actuating mechanism, arotatable cam-cylinder having incombination therewith a locking device, substantially as set forth.

16. The combination,with the rotary mechanism, of an inlet-pipe, acanrcylinder driven by said rotary mechanism, and a locking de- Vice toregulate the movement of said camcylinder, substantially as set forth.

17. The combinatiom'with the piston and its cylinder, of a rotatablecam-cylinder to operate the piston, a locking-disk, and a lockingarm toengage the disk, substantially as set forth. I

18. The combination, with the piston and its cylinder, of a rotatablecam-cylinder to operate the piston, a locking-disk, a reciprocating bar,E, and a locking-arm engaged with the reciprocating bar, substantiallyas set forth.

19. The combination, with the piston and its cylinder and a whistle inconnection with said cylinder, of the. inlet-pipe, controllingvalve,reciprocatory bar E, to operate the valve, reciprocating rod D and aretractingspring, and stationary means for operating said rod D,substantially as set forth.

20. The combination, with a locomotive, of a movable bar, 0, connectedwith a reciprocatory bar, E, and valve f, located in an inlet-pipe tocontrol the admission of steam to a locomotive whistle, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I sign this specification in the presence of twowitnesses.

"WILLIAM RYMER.

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